Cup holder

ABSTRACT

A cup holder includes a first cup holding hollow defined by a first bottom wall and a first sidewall rising from a periphery of the bottom wall and a second cup holding hollow provided adjacent the first cup holding hollow, and defined by a second bottom wall and a second sidewall rising from a periphery of the bottom wall. The first bottom wall is higher than the second sidewall.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-306395, filed Aug. 29, 2003, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a cup holder which holds cups such as paper cups, cups having handles, drink cans or the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

A cup holder mounted in a vehicle interior has cup holder portions provided at a cylindrically recessed interior component. As for a cup holder structure allowing a cup holder to hold a cup having a grip or what is called a mug, an invention disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication 2002-19513 (paragraphs 0007 to 0019, FIG. 1) has been known. In the disclosed cup holder structure, a pair of cutaway portions communicating with a cup holder portion are formed at a part of an outer wall of the cup holder portion and a column portion is formed between the cutaway portions.

Incidentally, if a cup holder is formed integrally with interior components of the vehicle, space for the cup holder is limited. For this reason, there is a request that the cup holder should be as small as possible to make the space for the cup holder smaller.

On the other hand, a cup holder mounted in an interior of a vehicle is required to hold two cups such as paper cups, mugs or the like having a capacity of 32 oz. (US: 1 oz.=29.573 ml). In general, however, a paper cup is formed to be in a shape of truncated cone which becomes greater in diameter toward its top and has the greatest diameter at its opening end. If two paper cups of this kind are aligned, space having a length which is double the diameter of the opening end is required. If mugs are aligned, their grips interfere with each other. For this reason, to align mugs, space having a length double the diameter of the mug and a distance in which the grips cannot interfere is required. Thus, a cup holder which holds two cups such as paper cups, mugs or the like having a capacity of 32 oz can easily be upsized.

The present invention has been accomplished under the above-described circumstances. The object of the present invention is to provide a cup holder capable of holding large-scale cups such as paper cups and mugs and saving space.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cup holder comprising a first cup holding hollow defined by a first bottom wall and a first sidewall rising from a periphery of the bottom wall and a second cup holding hollow provided adjacent the first cup holding hollow, and defined by a second bottom wall and a second sidewall rising from a periphery of the bottom wall. The first bottom wall is higher than the second sidewall.

Objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a floor console comprising a cup holder according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the cup holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view showing the cup holder of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the cup holder of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. In the embodiment, a cup holder 1 is formed integrally with a floor console 2 which is formed as one of interior components. In the drawings, arrow F indicates a front side of a vehicle and arrow R indicates a rear side thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, the floor console 2 comprises a console body 3 and a cover 4. The console body 3 and the cover 4 are resin-molded products. The cup holder 1 can be formed integrally with the cover 4. The console body 3 has a cup holder containing hollow 3 a in a position which opposes the cup holder 1 when the cover 4 is attached to the console body 3. Through holes 3 b and 4 a in which a shift lever 5 is inserted are formed at front portions of the console body 3 and the cover 4, respectively. The shift lever 5 projects into the interior through the through holes 3 b and 4 a. Thus, since the through hole 4 a needs to be formed at the front portion of the cover 4, space to form the cup holder 1 (longitudinal length) is limited.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the cup holder 1 has a hollow 10 in which two cups such as paper cups 6, mugs (cups having grips) 7, drink cans 8 or the like can be held. A first cup holding hollow 11 and a second cup holding hollow 12 are provided to be adjacent to each other, inside the hollow 10.

The first cup holding hollow 11 is defined by a first circular bottom wall 11 a and a first sidewall 11 b that becomes greater in diameter while extending upwardly from an edge of the bottom wall 11 a. The first sidewall 11 b is formed to have a peripheral wall. The second cup holding hollow 12 is defined by a second circular bottom wall 12 a and a second sidewall 12 b that becomes greater in diameter while extending upwardly from an edge of the bottom wall 12 a. The second sidewall 12 b is formed to have a peripheral wall. In other words, each of the first cup holding hollow 11 and the second cup holding hollow 12 is shaped in a truncated cone.

The first cup holding hollow 11 is provided behind the second cup holding hollow 12. The first bottom wall 11 a is provided at an upper position than the second bottom wall 12 a. An opening end 11 c of the first cup holding hollow 11 is provided at an upper position than an opening end 12 c of the second cup holding hollow 12.

The second bottom wall 12 a is formed to have a diameter of approximately 75 mm. For example, a 32-oz. (US: 1 oz.=29.573 ml) paper cup 6 shaped in a truncated cone, a 20-oz. paper cup shaped in a truncated cone, or a 350-ml drink can 8 is placed on the second bottom wall 12 a (FIG. 4). The second peripheral wall 12 b has a cup receiving end wall 13 that expands outwardly along the peripheral wall. The cup receiving end wall 13 supports a cup having a larger diameter than the second bottom wall 12 a. For example, a mug 7 or the like is placed on the cup receiving end wall 13 (FIGS. 3 and 4).

On the other hand, the first bottom wall 11 a is formed to have a diameter of approximately 68 mm. For example, a 20-oz. paper cup or a 350-ml drink can 8 is placed on the first bottom wall 11 a. The first peripheral wall 11 b has two cup receiving end walls 14 and 15 that expand outwardly along the peripheral wall. The cup receiving end walls 14 and 15 support cups having a larger diameter than the first bottom wall 11 a. An outer diameter of an outer edge of the cup receiving end wall 14 corresponds to the diameter of the second bottom wall 12 a. An outer diameter of an outer edge of the cup receiving end wall 15 corresponds to the outer diameter of the outer edge of the cup receiving end wall 13. For example, a 32-oz. paper cup 6 or the like is placed on the cup receiving end wall 14 (FIG. 4). In addition, for example, the mug 7 or the like is placed on the cup receiving end wall 15 (FIGS. 3 and 4).

The first cup holding hollow 11 has a cutaway portion 16 on the side of the second cup holding hollow 12. The cutaway portion 16 is opened toward the second cup holding hollow 12 (FIG. 2). A wall 17 is provided between the first cup holding hollow 11 and the second cup holding hollow 12. A peripheral wall 17 a of the wall 17 on the first cup holding hollow 11 side is provided to rise up from the cutaway portion 16. The peripheral wall 17 a is curved sequentially with the first peripheral wall 11 b. In other words, the peripheral wall 17 a is formed to compensate for a part which is cut out by the cutaway portion 16. A peripheral wall 17 b of the wall 17 on the second cup holding hollow 12 side is provided to rise up from the opening end 12 c of the second cup holding hollow 12. The peripheral wall 17 b is curved sequentially with the second peripheral wall 12 b.

The 32-oz. paper cup 6, the mug 7 or the elongated drink can 8 is held in the cup holder 1 in manners explained below.

If the 32-oz. paper cup 6 is held in the first cup holding hollow 11 as shown in FIG. 4, a lower end portion of the paper cup 6 is supported on the cup receiving end wall 14. On the other hand, if the 32-oz. paper cup 6 is held in second cup holding hollow 12, the lower end portion of the paper cup 6 is supported on the second bottom wall 12 a. Thus, the upper end portion of the paper cup 6 held in the holding hollow 11 and that in the holding hollow 12 are shifted by a distance between the cup receiving end wall 14 and the second bottom wall 12 a. The space occupied by the cup holder 1 can be therefore set to be smaller than the space having a length which is double the diameter of the top end portion (opening end) of the paper cup 6.

Incidentally, the floor console 2 comprises a storage box 20. The storage box 20 is provided on a position (rear portion) of the floor console 2 (console body 3) near the side R (rear side). For this reason, the top wall of the floor console 2 is higher from the front side toward the storage box 20 along the length direction of the vehicle. In other words, the wall of the cover 4 is higher from the vicinity of the through hole 4 a toward the direction R. In accordance with this, the end portion of the peripheral wall 17 a of the first cup holding hollow 11 on the side R (rear side) is higher than the end portion of the peripheral wall 12 b of the second cup holding hollow 12 on the side F (front side).

In addition, the through hole 4 a through which the shift lever 5 passes is formed on the front portion of the cover 4 formed integrally with the cup holder 1. The shift lever 5 projects into the interior from the through hole 4 a. In other words, the driver needs to operate the shift lever 5 located in front of the cup holder 1. According to the embodiment, since the second bottom wall 12 a is provided to be lower than the first bottom wall 11 a, the upper end portion of the paper cup 6 held in the second cup holding hollow 12 is lower than that in the first cup holding hollow 11. Thus, even if the cup is held in the second cup holding hollow 12 located on the shift lever 5 side, the upper end portion of the cup can be set to be lower than the upper end portion of the cup held in the first cup holding hollow 11. For this reason, even if the cup holder 1 of the embodiment is formed integrally with the floor console 2, existence of the cup holder 1 hardly disturbs operations of the shift lever 5.

If the mug 7 is held in the first cup holding hollow 11, the grip 7 a is moved downward while fitted in one of the spaces which are defined by the cutaway portion 16 and which are separated by the wall 17 as shown in FIG. 3. The lower end portion of the mug 7 is thereby supported on the cup receiving end surface 15 as shown in FIG. 4. On the other hand, if the mug 7 is held in the second cup holding hollow 12, the grip 7 a is moved downward while fitted in the other one of the spaces which are defined by the cutaway portion 16 and which are separated by the wall 17 as shown in FIG. 3. The lower end portion of the mug 7 is thereby supported on the cup receiving end wall 13 as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, the mug 7 can be held without expanding the spaces occupied by the cup holder 1. Moreover, interference between the grips 7 a of the adjacent mugs 7 can be restricted.

If the elongated drink cans 8 are held in the first cup holding hollow 11 and the second cup holding hollow 12, they are supported on the first bottom wall 11 a and the second bottom wall 12 a, respectively. Even if the lower end portions of the drink cans 8 are smaller than the first bottom wall 11 a or the second bottom wall 12 a and if there are gaps between the drink cans 8 and than the first bottom wall 11 a or the second bottom wall 12 a, the elongated drink cans 8 can be prevented from falling down since the wall 17 is provided as shown in FIG. 3.

According to the cup holder 1 of the embodiment, as described above, the first bottom wall 11 a is higher than the second bottom wall 12 a. Even cups expanding upwardly and having a diameter made greater toward their upper end portions can be held by displacing the upper end portions from each other. Thus, two large cups such as paper cups or mugs can be held in the cup holder 1 and the space can be saved.

In the embodiment, the consol body 3 and the cover 4 of the floor console 2 are formed separately and the cup holder 1 is provided integrally with the cover 4. However, the cup holder 1 can also be provided on the floor console 2 having the consol body 3 and the cover 4 formed integrally as one body. In addition, the cup holder 1 may be formed integrally with an interior component such as an instrument panel, a center console, a door armrest or the like.

The cup holder of the present invention is not limited to integral formation with the interior component of a vehicle, but can be modified in various manners without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A cup holder comprising: a first cup holding hollow defined by a first bottom wall and a first sidewall rising from a periphery of the bottom wall; and a second cup holding hollow provided adjacent the first cup holding hollow, and defined by a second bottom wall and a second sidewall rising from a periphery of the bottom wall, wherein the first bottom wall is higher than the second sidewall.
 2. The cup holder according to claim 1, wherein the cup holder is provided on a vehicle, and the first cup holding hollow is arranged behind the second cup holding hollow along a length direction of the vehicle.
 3. The cup holder according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle comprises a shift lever, and the shift lever is arranged in front of the second cup holding hollow along a length direction of the vehicle.
 4. The cup holder according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle comprises a floor console and the floor console comprises a storage box on a rear side along the length direction of the vehicle, the first cup holding hollow and the second cup holding hollow are provided on the floor console, and a top wall of the floor console becomes higher from a front side toward the storage box along the length direction of the vehicle.
 5. The cup holder according to claim 1, wherein the cup holder is provided on a vehicle comprising a floor console, and the first cup holding hollow and the second cup holding hollow are provided integrally with a top wall of the floor console.
 6. The cup holder according to claim 1, wherein a wall is provided between the first cup holding hollow and the second cup holding hollow.
 7. The cup holder according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second sidewalls has cup receiving end walls that expand outwardly along the sidewall. 